xymnovel Chapter 141 Reunion with Robert
Chapter 141 Reunion with Robert
Chapter 141 Reunion with Robert (Part 1)
Leon left the room, and the three doctors did not go in directly, but instead pointed to the depths of the corridor.
Lyon looked in the direction they pointed and saw a small brass washbasin sitting quietly on a stone pedestal.
"Your Highness," Cicero bowed, "for your health's sake, please allow us to take some necessary precautions first."
Dr. Abu had already walked to the basin and was using a long-handled silver ladle to scoop warm water from the earthenware pot. As the water flowed into the basin, it emitted a faint herbal aroma.
"This is water boiled with sage and thyme," he explained. "The soap next to it comes from my hometown of Aleppo. It's based on olive oil, with laurel oil giving it antibacterial properties, and wood ash water to set it. Please allow me to say that in preventing the spread of disease, we Arab medicine have some—more practical wisdom than bloodletting."
Abu glanced smugly at Brother Gilles, but Brother Gilles remained unmoved, not even noticing what Abu had said.
With his back to the crowd and facing the tightly closed doors of his bedchamber, he made the sign of the cross on his chest, and Latin prayers flowed out like sighs:
Lord, look with mercy upon Baldwin, your servant, who, though gravely ill, still bears the weight of the throne—”
Lyon walked to the basin.
What is called a washbasin is actually an exquisite metal craft.
The brass bowl is engraved with intricate geometric patterns on its outer wall, and a swan-neck-shaped spout extends from the rim of the bowl. The inner wall of the basin below is inlaid with blue-green glass fragments.
Inside the bowl, warm steam rises gently, carrying the crisp aroma of laurel and rosemary.
He picked up the famous Aleppo soap.
It is square, yellow and white, with a delicate texture formed by the solidification of natural oils on the surface.
"Mr. Abu," Leon asked, twirling the soap in his palm, "besides olive oil, laurel oil, and wood ash water, what else is needed in the process?"
Abu looked slightly surprised, then replied seriously, "Your Highness is indeed perceptive. There is indeed another crucial step, which is maturation."
Newly made soap needs to be stored in a cool, well-ventilated place for at least nine months. During this period, the alkalinity and oils in the soap will fully react, making it mild and of moderate hardness. My father once said that a truly good soap should, like a fine vintage wine, undergo the aging process.
Leon nodded thoughtfully, rubbing his hands together in warm water.
Perhaps we could try to improve the soap-making process later?
Now things are going to get busy again. Alexius gave him the Greek fire sketch, he promised to compensate Zahir for the modification of the two warships, and now he has the inspiration for soap. If he can use modern knowledge to make a better soap, he can not only make money, but also prevent diseases to a greater extent.
After drying his hands with a handkerchief, Lyon turned and walked towards the courtyard.
Balian and Jacob were talking quietly under the pillars when they saw him appear and immediately came to greet him.
"Your Highness, His Majesty, he—" Balian's voice was heavy.
"It's terrible," Lyon said, shaking his head. "Leprosy has eroded the king's eyes and weakened his resistance to other diseases. He's now going blind and has a persistent high fever."
Balian's expression gradually darkened, and he retreated to his original position, remaining silent.
Accord sighed and made the sign of the cross on his chest.
After a long silence, Balian finally asked, "Your Highness, may I stay? At least—stand guard outside the door."
"That's exactly what I wanted to say." Leon nodded. "You stay here. If anything changes, send someone to inform me immediately."
"You're leaving the palace again?" Balian frowned. "Maria instructed me that you've already traveled across most of the Mediterranean and the Levant in the past month, now it's time—"
"It's just a trip to Jaffa Port and the Royal Workshops," Leon interrupted him, his tone relaxed. "My uncle will be with me, don't worry."
Accord nodded to Balian, straightened his body, and gave him a "leave it to me" look.
Just as the two men led their horses to the palace gate, a figure leaped out from the shadows of the side corridor.
"Your Highness, good day, it's been a long time!"
Looking at the familiar beard, Leon exclaimed with delight, "Robert! You've finally decided to come back! I thought you wanted to be a hands-off boss for life, leaving all the business in the Holy Land to Theodore!"
Robert was no longer the composed man he once was. His signature thick beard was unkempt, his luxurious mink cloak was covered in travel dust, and his shrewd little eyes were bloodshot, filled with weariness and anxiety.
He smiled wryly and said, "I didn't want to either, Your Highness. After all, it's like snatching food from a tiger's mouth. Dividing Daniel's inheritance has left me with a huge headache."
Leon asked, "So, how did it end up? Have you taken care of everything?"
"It's a pity, Your Highness, it's not that we accomplished nothing, but rather that we fell short at the last hurdle," Robert stammered. "No one expected that the political situation in Venice would suddenly undergo such a dramatic reshuffle!"
"What happened?"
"An old man from Constantinople named Enrico Dandolo has been parachuted into Venice," Robert said gravely. "Not only is he incredibly capable, but his reputation in Venice is terrifying. Whenever he appears before the citizens, he's guaranteed to be met with thunderous cheers!"
"Enrico Dandolo?!" Lyon was startled. He remembered Marshal Cantostefanos mentioning the name in Constantinople. Although he realized he should get rid of him as soon as possible, he didn't take it too seriously because the man wouldn't become governor for another ten years.
Unexpectedly, the butterfly effect had already taken hold. Enrico became Doge of Venice ten years ahead of schedule, and was elected with immense prestige. Robert, oblivious to Lyon's expression, continued his lament: "This man comes from the powerful Dandolo family of Venice, and served as the consul at the embassy in Constantinople for over a decade—he's exceptionally experienced. It's said that recently, he somehow managed to release all the prisoners of war captured in Antalya from the Roman Empire. With all these factors combined, he was unanimously elected as the new Doge of Venice, seizing the dictatorial power that the previous Doges had almost completely lost!"
Accord looked up abruptly: "He ransomed the prisoners of war?"
“Not just a redemption!” Robert’s voice trembled with excitement. “He didn’t spend a single penny of the Venetian treasury! God knows what methods he used! Some say he made a secret agreement with Basilius, some say he mortgaged half of the Dandolo family’s estate in Constantinople, and some even say that he has something that can bring shame to the Constantinople palace.”
"The day the prisoners of war returned, all of Venice was in an uproar," Robert described, his eyes filled with a mixture of awe and resentment. "The docks were packed with people; wives found their husbands, mothers embraced their sons, and the whole city went wild with cries and cheers. Dandolo arrived later; he had received petitions from the Senate and citizens in Constantinople."
Robert exclaimed incredulously, "They're practically begging Dandolo to be governor!"